IMPACT REPORT 2007–2008 - Endeavor Chile

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endeavor in action
PROMOTE
ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT
THAI QUANG NGHIA
Sharing the stories of High-Impact Entrepreneurs is a critical component
to providing full support for High-Impact Entrepreneurs. In doing so,
Endeavor promotes the importance of entrepreneurship in emerging
economies and inspires the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Endeavor’s case study is being taught around the world, including
In 1979, Thai Quang Nghia left Vietnam
as a refugee on a fishing boat. Miraculously,
he was picked up by a Petrobrás oil tanker,
which gave him asylum in Brazil. Over the
next fifteen years, Thai came to embody the
spirit of entrepreneurship as he started a
variety of retail businesses.
played an instrumental role in teaching
Thai about the importance of hiring
good management by providing him
with pro-bono mentors from a top
international HR firm. In 2008, Endeavor
promoted Thai’s story through a feature
on CNN International.
COMPANY
Goóc
COUNTRY
Brazil
YEAR SELECTED
2006
in the classrooms of these business schools: Harvard, Stanford,
Duke, MIT/Sloan, Columbia, and even undergrads at Princeton.
In 2003, he launched Goóc, a lifestyle
business that specializes in fashion and
footwear. Since being selected in 2006,
Thai has seen his business soar—revenues
have increased over 500%. Endeavor has
Thai has pledged 2% equity of Goóc to
Endeavor Brazil because, “Brazil helped
me when I needed it most; now it is time
for me to give back, generating jobs and
wealth.”
SINCE BEING SELECTED IN 2006, THAI HAS SEEN HIS BUSINESS
SOAR—REVENUES HAVE INCREASED OVER 500%.
ENTREPRENEUR SPOTLIGHT
PATRICIO FUKS & ALEJANDRO FRENKEL
Where others saw despair and risk in
the Argentine economic crisis of 2001,
visionary entrepreneur Patricio Fuks saw
true opportunity. Capitalizing on his
family’s background in the traditional
hotel industry, Patricio moved quickly in
the struggling Buenos Aires tourism market
to consolidate three hotels within one year.
Just five short years later, he and his partner
Alejandro Frenkel are leading Grupo Fën
—a hotel management company—through
a red-hot expansion phase. Today Grupo
Fën manages nine hotels which employ
close to 300 people.
Endeavor Argentina hosted a specialized
2-day HR workshop for Grupo Fën, from
which Patricio and Alejandro have received
ongoing consulting from the VentureCorps.
Passionate entrepreneurs with an endless
stream of market-changing ideas, Patricio
and Alejandro are truly big-thinkers aiming
to create the first Latin American boutique
hotel brand with global potential.
COMPANY
Grupo Fën
COUNTRY
Argentina
YEAR SELECTED
2007
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